page_title: Broad Street, Reading
section_title: Retail
hierarchical_section_title: Broad Street, Reading / Retail
caption_attribution_description: Heelas (john Lewis), Broad Street, Reading. Built 1870, possibly to designs by W F Woodman.
context_page_description: Broad Street is a main pedestrianised thoroughfare and the primary high street in the English town of Reading. The street is situated in the town centre, running for approximately 0.25 miles, from west to east. The western end of the road lies at the crossroads with Oxford Road, West Street and St Mary's Butts. The eastern end continues as King Street after the junction with Minster Street and Butter Market.
  Today the street is principally known as a shopping destination, being anchored at its east and west ends respectively by The Oracle and Broad Street Mall enclosed shopping centres. However the street has also played an occasional role in English history, most especially during the Battle of Reading, sometimes referred to as the Battle of Broad Street.
context_section_description: The department store of John Lewis & Partners (formerly known as Heelas) is located on Broad Street. There are also branches of many chain stores, including Bhs, Boots, H&M, Marks and Spencers, Next, Sainsbury's, schuh and W H Smith. The Broad Street branch of booksellers Waterstone's is of particular interest, as it is a remarkable conversion of a nonconformist chapel dating from 1707.
  The Oracle shopping centre has a direct entrance from Broad Street, and houses many other major stores, including the department stores of Debenhams and House of Fraser, as well as a large selection of restaurants and bars.
  Union Street known locally as Smelly Alley due to its open fronted fishmonger's and greengrocer's shops, is a narrow street which runs between Broad Street and the parallel Friar Street. Although the number of food shops has declined recently, it is still home to a number of local independent stores.
caption: John Lewis & Partners (originally Heelas)
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